Forged Performance: SPOHN's Custom FP Spec 4-Point Cage
 

Last week, Chris dropped off his 370Z to have us fabricate and weld in a custom 4 point road racing cage. After joining us last year at a Chin Motorsports event at Road Atlanta, he quickly become hooked on track days and performance driving. With plans to do a full competition spec 6 point cage, we designed this 4-Point cage to allow for the easy addition of the front portion once he makes the move to full blown race-only car.

Keeping the cage only to the rear of the driver allows this car to be safely driven on the street without a helmet. Chris made the job easy for us, and brought the car completely stripped and ready for us to begin our work.

All of our cage fabrication takes place at Forged2 which is located 3/4 of mile down Cobb Parkway from our main location. This location houses our Fabrication, Motorsports, and Product Development Departments. Chris and Daniel are our two in-house fabricators and have years of experience in motorsports fabrication, welding, and metal fabrication. When you look closely at our cage work you'll see we use only the best and strongest materials and anchor points and very tight fit ups. We use properly cut and shaped 3/16th inch steel mounting plates, 1.75" .095 DOM tubing and perfect welding techniques and equipment. With the owner planning to paint the cage himself and mount his 6-Point harnesses we are looking forward to how the final finished product turns out.

Looking forward to a successful track season, and I am sure he will post some pics of the final painted masterpiece very shortly.

Build Progress Photos:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6...bef0c02d_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6...bcd8abe2_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6...34886c95_b.jpg

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6...ec01a0ec_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6...7c8868f4_b.jpg


Final Build Photos(with a guest appearance by yours truly):

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6...e9ac1e53_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7166/6...f45f9bbc_b.jpg

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that last pic looks great chad

Thanks
 

First and foremost I'd like to give thanks to everyone at Forged Performance for all they have done. They are such a great team. They have always gone beyond my expectations and more. So the following goes out them ones that directly helped in this build.

Sharif: For working with me and giving much needed advice to help me cut cost. Also for dedicating the time in explaining the details of what's needed and what's is important in such a build.

Chris & Daniel: For the great fabrication and welding skills. This was defianlty precision work.

Chad: For the great pics and service he brings to the table. Plus lots of laughs.

Ryan: For always taking my calls and listening to my concerns. Plus for helping me get the best prices on all my mods. Can't wait for my harness to get here.

I couldn't be more excited at the moment. The outcome of this cage is truely craftsmanship to the fullest. The cage is a tight fit with some of the best welding I've ever seen (smooth as butter :tup:).I'm proud to say I look forward to representing Forged. I can't wait get this painted. So stay tuned for that.

Mr. Spohn -- that looks like great work. Hats off to all involved.

Looks amazing.

More Pics
 

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...ollCage005.jpg

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...ollCage006.jpg

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...ollCage007.jpg

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...ollCage008.jpg

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...ollCage009.jpg

Looks great Chris now if we can only get you to drive correctly.:bowrofl:

Just having fun with the STIG:tup:

:roflpuke2:

That cage is fantastic!:tup:
Great Job

cage looks great! fantastic work!:tup:

I'd also like to say this cage obviously made the rear a little stiffer. In which it really needed it back there being all the weight that was removed made the rear end so light and slightly loose feeling.

awesome Chris :tup:

Looks great! Can't wait to hear feedback from how much it helps rigidity from weight reduction techniques.

Also, since this is a full up weld-in kit, something because race car, is there something in development, or rather hopefully closer to production, for those not sponsored and not quite ready to go full race car?

Either a bolt in cage, or just a harness bar to replace the rear crossmember?

That's amazing work and the cage looks great! Great job with everything and keep the pics coming!

I don't think Forged will be looking to run a production of bolt in cages. They already have a lot on there plate as is with all the customers base now. Plus they are working on some R&D products now (which takes time).

But if your looking for something as simple as a replacement crossmember bar Forged can defiantly do something for you.

Thank you for all the comments Chris, I can't wait to see the cage once it is painted. I really like where you're going with the car dude, it is looking so sick! :tup:

We are working on a lot of product development for 2012 for a few different vehicles including the 370Z. At this point I don't think we have plans for a production unit but if you guys are interested we might be able to do something for you. We do still have our NISMO that could be used for fab/test purposes.

I should have my paint tomorrow. Still have a lot of masking off to do. That's going to be the pain.

Awesome ! What are the thin bars on top that look like two slots for ? Belts to pass through ?

The loops are to keep your harnesses in place for it won't allow them to slide any.

I would love for at least a harness bar capable of actually being used, if not a full up cage. It looks great and will help with stability/restraint prior to a full cage being put in. I'd be interested in one for sure.

@Forged,

Do you mind if I pick your brains a little bit on the design here? I'm in a similar boat w/ Chris on current status/requirements and looking to put in a similar 4-point in the near future. Forged is a bit of a drive for me though (~13 hrs each way), so I'll probably use a local shop (undecided who yet). I've been trying to at least mostly sort through the design issues first on my own, so that I know what I'm talking about and what is or isn't acceptable when I start talking design with the shop (who I hope knows more than I do anyways, heh).

1) What was the logic on choosing this particular DOM size (1.75 x .095), does that just happen to hit a sweet spot for being legal for this car's usual class in a couple of different rule sets or other?

2) Is it possible to take the main hoop ends all the way to the lower floorboard as a design option when doing this, or does that just end up being a much weaker mountpoint than the obviously-strong spot you put them on that crossmember? Are there other pros/cons between those two spots, assuming the lower one is even viable?

3) What's the pros/cons on going with the harness bar offset to the rear like Chris's vs having it inline with the main hoop? I imagine your design is stronger (because in-line one of the two bars has to be cut and put back together), but is there more to this decision?

Oh and I guess (4) if you happen to know of a shop that's closer to Houston you'd recommend, I'd love to hear about it, would make my search easier :)

Good sh*t dude, nice to see someone that's not f*cking around lol

:bowrofl:

I hoping I'll have it painted tomorrow or Thursday at the lateset. The weather should be a lot warmer than it has been that last three days.

:tup: can't wait to see it with some paint on it.